GSC Game World has teamed up with Ukrainian fundraising platform UNITED24 for a new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 campaign aiming to raise $100,000 to help clear mines and unexploded ordnance from the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
The fundraiser sees the fictional dangers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl collide rather uncomfortably with the very real situation in Ukraine, with donations going towards UNITED24’s Humanitarian Demining program.
There are also some extraordinary S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 collectibles up for grabs for those contributing to the campaign, including five keychains made from the fuselage of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter shot down by Ukrainian forces over Chornobyl.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 fundraiser offers some seriously unusual prizesThe S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope x UNITED24 campaign offers different rewards depending on the minimum donation made.
Those donating at least $10 can be entered for one of 10 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 x UNITED24 patch sets, while donations of $24 or more qualify for limited-edition T-shirts or one of 25 Ultimate Edition game keys, which also include the Cost of Hope expansion.
A minimum $40 donation puts players in the running for one of those five Mi-8 helicopter artifact keychains, while anyone donating $100 or more has a chance to receive a unique artist-made S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 x UNITED24 collectible.
All money raised through the campaign will be allocated to humanitarian demining in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
The region was occupied by Russian forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following its liberation by Ukrainian forces, mines, tripwires, and other explosive remnants were discovered across the area.
UNITED24 says clearing them is vital not only for those working inside the zone but also for scientific research, environmental protection, and allowing firefighters and emergency services to respond safely to incidents such as wildfires.
The organisation says at least eight explosions have already wounded or killed staff and service members within the 260,000-hectare Exclusion Zone.
For GSC Game World, whose S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series has been inseparably linked to Chornobyl since the original game arrived nearly two decades ago, the campaign has an obvious significance.
“Chornobyl is the beating heart of our gaming universe,” GSC Game World said. “For us, it’s far more than just a setting or a narrative backdrop — it’s a vital piece of the Ukrainian cultural code and an inseparable part of our identity.
“Today, amid the ongoing war, we want our work to carry real-world power and help our country overcome the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion.
“That is why this new joint project to demine the Exclusion Zone is a deeply symbolic and meaningful mission for our entire studio.
“Our goal is simple: ensure that danger exists only within the game, while real Ukrainian soil becomes safe once again as quickly as possible.”
This isn’t the first time GSC Game World has worked with UNITED24. The pair previously raised $120,000 through the Bring Light Back campaign, which provided power generators for Ukrainian schools.
UNITED24 is Ukraine’s official fundraising platform and was launched in May 2022. It has now raised almost $4 billion across its various initiatives, including humanitarian demining, medical aid, education, reconstruction, and other projects.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the new campaign or find out more about the available S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 collectibles can do so through the official UNITED24 website.
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